3) In order to prevent leakage and building rot, deck ledger flashing is always placed under the siding and over the top of the decking.
True or false?
(4) How long does the average modern electric water-heater tank last?
A. 5 years
B. 30 years
C. 12 years
D. As long as the Kingdome stood.
(5) Insulated windows have different spaces between the panes, depending on the manufacturer and age. A larger gap is less energy efficient.
True or false?
(6) Which small crack should be repaired?
A. Shower tile grout at vertical corners.
B. A reinforced concrete foundation.
C. Caulking on the floor at the rear of the toilet.
(7) Which is a direct sign of imminent gas water-heater tank leakage?:
A. Rusty connection nipples.
B. Rusty baffle.
C. Rusty Wallace.
D. Rusty draft diverter.
(8) When "four houses in your neighborhood have been selected to train siding applicators," you get:
A. Vocational college credit.
B. Free siding.
C. A tax deduction.
D. What you pay for.
(9)
A typical gas forced-air furnace needs:
A. Nothing until it quits.
B. Professional service every two years.
C. A thermostat.
D. A heat exchanger.
E. A loving relationship.
F. A cold air return.
G. Everything except A and E.
(10) A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) does what?
A. Protects wiring.
B. Protects humans.
C. Protects endangered species.
D. Not much at all.
(11) Which one of the following is an approved roofing product in Tukwila, Tumwater and Tenino?
A. A 20-foot-by-20-foot blue tarp with tie-down rings.
B. Cedar shakes.
C. Strawberry shake.
D. Hippy-hippy shake.
(12) Paint lasts longer on a horizontal surface than vertical.
True or false?
(13) A dark-colored fiberglass door can cause injury when a tightly fitting storm door is installed.
True or false?
(14) How many amps can the typical new home electrical system produce?
A. 110.
B. 00.
C. 220.
D. 200.
(15) Multiply amps by volts and you will get:
A. Watts.
B. Electricity.
C. Static electricity.
D. Shocked.
(16) Which caulking type cleans up most easily with water?:
A. Elastomeric copolymer.
B. Siliconized acrylic.
C. Silicone.
D. Latex.
E. Butyl.
F. Urethane.
G. Polyurethane.
(17) This is a two-part question. You must get both correct to score the point: Which caulking lasts longer, silicone, or acrylic latex? And: Which of the two will accept paint more readily?
(
18) Where do many discarded "Ask the Expert" columns end up?
A. Pike Place Market, wrapped tightly around a fish head.
B. Ground up into cellulose insulation.
C. On the desks of Pulitzer Prize committee members.
D. Target practice at Dart World.
(19) Gas fireplaces create creosote and need regular flue cleaning just like their wood-burning brethren.
True or false?
(20) Concrete weighs how much per cubic yard, when wet?
A. 452 pounds.
B. 1,275 pounds.
C. 4,000 pounds.
D. 9,500 pounds.
(1) A and D, Typar and Tyvek.
(2) A and B, redwood, and plastics and composites. Cedar and treated wood are also very popular, but weren't listed in the question.
(3) False. Ledger flashing must be tucked beneath the decking in order to protect the building. This is a very common mistake deck builders make.
(4) C. 12 years for electric. For gas it is about 10.
(5) False. The opposite is true.
(6) A. Cracks in the grout should be repaired to prevent leakage.
(7) A. Rusty connection nipples usually indicate heavy rust on the dip tubes and inside the tank lining generally. Draft diverters and baffles rust within a year or two of installing a new unit, so this signifies very little.
(8) D. Yes, you do get what you pay for. If you buy siding sold door-to-door with gimmicky marketing schemes, then good luck to you.
(9) G.
(10) B. GFCIs protect against shocks, whereas breakers protect the wiring.
(11) B. Cedar shakes.
(12) False.
(13) True. Heat buildup can cause burns on hot days.
(14) Trick question. Houses don't generally PRODUCE electricity, they consume it.
(15) A. Watts and watts of electricity.
(16) D. Latex cleans up most easily with water. Credit given for B, siliconized acrylic also.
(17) Silicone lasts longer but will not accept paint.
(18) Any answer here is correct.
(19) False. An impinged flame can create black soot in some cases, but this is not common, nor does it generally cause the flue to require sweeping.
(20) C. Yup, a whopping 4,000 pounds per yard. You will appreciate this if you have ever hauled concrete around in a wheelbarrow.
How was your score?
18-20: You spend way too much time reading this column, or you cheated. Get a life!
15-17: You are sharp as a tack.
10-14: Room for improvement. Go read Mr. Handyperson first for practical advice, then come see me for insults.
6-10: You must be the guy that wrote in last week about the meth lab.
1-5: Good thing I gave one question away, huh? My cat got a better score walking across the paper with muddy feet, buddy.
|
